By Alex A. Gonzalez
Buena Park – With a CIF Division 14 title and a Regional title under their belts, the South El Monte Eagles faced the Balboa Buccaneers for the CIF 7-A State championship at Buena Park High School Saturday afternoon, and after falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, the Eagles could not recover, falling to the eventual champs 42-8.
The road for the Eagles (11-5, 4-2 Mission Valley), who entered the Division 14 playoffs as Mission Valley’s third team, relied on their defense as they made their way to the crown, holding opponents to less than a touchdown per game.
But when Buccaneers’ (12-2, 5-0 Academic) quarterback Rylen Thien-Jones used his legs, which gained 28 yards on their first drive, South’s defense was spread thin. Two plays later, Thein-Jones found Mekai Smith, who slipped out of the backfield for the 9-yard score.
The Eagles then had Michael Maldonado use a hard count against Balboa on their second drive to draw them offsides, and with back-to-back offsides, the Eagles found themselves in Balboa territory. Then, after he completed passes for 12 and 14 yards to Gabriel Canchola and Damian Cordova, South had a chance to tie the game at seven with 2:26 remaining in the first quarter.
Unfortunately, on first and goal from the 9-yard line, Maldonado scrambled out of the pocket and was stripped of possession and recovered by Jasiah Jackson. Five plays later, Thein-Jones and Smith hooked up for the second time of the game for a 27-yard catch and run as the first quarter ended.
Then, as the second quarter started, South El Monte’s run-first offense would generate positive yardage between Maldonado and Cordova when they carried the rock into the red zone. However, the drive ended abruptly when Maldonado sailed his pass over his target and into the hands of Syrus Siga, who then took it back for the Bucs.
From that point, both teams would exchange punts, and Balboa went into intermission up 14-0.
South’s defense then fell apart in the third quarter by allowing Thien-Jones and Smith to reach the endzone on all three of their drives. Thien-Jones’ 49-yard touchdown toss came 33 seconds after they received the kickoff. And Smith carried for 11 and 78 yards, propelled the Bucs to a 34-0 lead with 2:17 left to play in the third quarter.
The Eagles’ offense, which had had success moving the ball on Balboa in the first half, struggled to reach midfield in the second half. Once Cordova took the handoff, he was immediately met by Buc’s defenders in the backfield.
After allowing Thein-Jones to score his fourth touchdown of the afternoon midway through the fourth quarter, South El Monte would get on the board before the final buzzer.
With a running clock already started, Maldonado dropped back to pass from the 12-yard line and connected with Bobby Rojas, who hauled in the pass with one hand. And after a successful 2-point try, South El Monte ended their 2025 postseason run as runners-up in the 7-A State Finals.
There was no trophy presentation because players from both teams were pushing and shoving each other on the South sideline with a minute left in regulation. The officiating crew called the game from that point, and both teams were instructed to return to their locker rooms.
South El Monte Starting O-Line
LT: 51 Abraham Martinez
LG: 74 Sebastian Gallegos
C: 55 Daniel Ruiz
RG: 66 Armando De La Rosa
RT: 77 Iva Lopez
Defense
51 Abraham Martinez 3 Tackles
77 Ivan Lopez 3 Tackles
28 Abraham Cervantes 5 Tackles
3 Gabriel Conchola 7 Tackles
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And LP lost to Montebello, dont hate cause LP couldn’t do it this year.
They faced a real team , not a city section imposter
The Eagles program has everything to be proud of this season. Of course, we all wish this last game had turned out differently, but CIF State has an odd way of structuring brackets, as witness the pitting of RHP with a Sonora club that could probably beat Mission Viejo or Servite. My best to coach Gallardo, the players and their many fans. You are champions.